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AT&T has announced a Wi-Fi hot spot with a touch-screen display to access configuration and usage tools. The MiFi Liberate, made by Novatel, delivered Long-Term Evolution download speeds of nearly 20 Mbps when tested with a MacBook Air, Florence Ion writes. The device is available with a 5-gigabyte data plan for $50 a month.

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Sprint will put three tri-band devices -- designed to improve service inside buildings and in crowded urban areas -- a pair of hot spots and a USB modem, on sale July 19, an outgrowth of the carrier's Network Vision project to provide Long-Term Evolution service. The hot-spot devices from Netgear and Novatel, will work in the 800 MHz, 1.9 GHz and 2.5 GHz bands with 800 MHz coming on line later in the year.

Most of the major mobile technology companies are passing on this week's International CES show in Las Vegas while Verizon Communications and AT&T are unveiling some products -- although they, too, are expected to maintain a low-key presence with no news conferences planned. Verizon will tout a new telematics partnership with Delphi and the resulting Connected Car device. Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam will make a keynote address Tuesday. AT&T, which Friday unveiled a touch-screen 4G mobile hot spot, will also showcase new wireless home monitoring and security services under its Digital Life brand.

Skyfire took on AT&T as its first client for its browser that features an embedded Horizon toolbar, which seeks to integrate the surfing experience with extensions, utilities and Web-based applications on some Android handsets. Horizon "earns the carriers some beachfront real estate," Skyfire CEO Jeff Glueck said. Also at AT&T, the carrier earned exclusivity to the MiFi Liberate, a mobile hot spot with an embedded touch screen.

Mobile hot spots should eventually replace the current embedded radio model in mobile Internet devices, according to an opinion piece that notes the increasing popularity of MiFi services from companies such as Novatel Wireless.

AT&T will allow nearly all of its broadband Internet customers free access to its 10,000 Wi-Fi hot spots rather than limiting the service to premium broadband members, the company said. AT&T also will introduce a new service tier in which customers of its U-verse television package can get access to faster broadband-data speeds.